Hat hangers



June 9, 1959 H. L. THORNBURG HAT HANGERS Filed April 26. 1954 7 2A INVENTOR. HUBERT L THORNBURG United States Patent HAT HANGERS Hubert L. Thornburg, Newberg, Oreg.

Application April 28, 1954, Serial No. 426,124 1 Claim. (Cl. 211-30) This invention relates to hat supports and more particularly to hangers for supporting hats.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a hanger for supporting a hat in such a manner as to prevent deformation of the hat while it is supported by the hanger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hanger for a hat that will support the hat within the crown and by the rim, in such a manner as to permit water to drain from the crown and the rim of the hat While hanging on the hanger.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hanger that is adapted to hang on clothes hangers of all types, such as hooks, nails, poles and the like.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a hanger for supporting a hat and which has simplicity of design, economy of construction and efiiciency in operation or use.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claim. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts through the several figures and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a hanger in accordance with the present invention and illustrates the manner of supporting a conventional type of hat;

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the hanger;

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of a modified hanger, and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of a hanger and hat in relative positions for mounting the hat on or removing it from the hanger.

Referring specifically to the drawing, a hanger in accordance with the present invention comprises a single piece of wire 1, having the major portion of its length formed in a closed loop 10 with the one end of the wire secured as by spot welding or other suitable means, to the wire 1 intermediate its length by a joint 9, the wire 1 beyond the joint 9 being formed as a hook portion including a shank 12 and terminating in a hook 11. The loop 10 is essentially an elongated oval with a U-shaped portion 2 opposite the joint 9, and has substantially right angle bends 3 intermediate its length so that the U-portion 2 extends substantially horizontally when the hanger is suspended by its hook 11. Between the bends 3 and the joint 9, the loop 10 is formed with depending fingerlike retainers 6.

Specifically describing the foregoing formation, the U- shaped portion 2 has substantially parallel legs 2A which extend to the angles 3. Beyond these angles, the wire is formed with curved portions 4 which extend to reverse bends 5, straight portions 5A, reverse bends 6A and "ice straight portions 7. The straight portions 5A and 7 and reverse bend 6A form the fingers 6 and the portions 4 and 5A are spaced to provide a channel or space 12 therebetween. At the upper end of the straight portions 7, the wire is formed with double curved S-portions 8 and straight portions 8A which extend to the joint 9.

Referring to Figure 3, I have shown a slightly modified form, wherein the portions 4' are straight and provide an angular space or channel 12' separating them from the portions 5A, the S-bends 8 are eliminated so that portions 8B extend between the upper ends of the portions 7 and the joint 9, and a loop 101 is formed on the hook 11. The book 11' is adapted to hang over poles in closets and the like, as shown in Figure 1, while the loop 101 is adapted to fit over nails. It will be appreciated that the loop 101 may be provided on the hook 11 of the modification shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In the use of my new and improved hat hanger, as schematically shown in Figure 4, a hat H is mounted over the U-shaped portion 2 and the brim of the hat is inserted upwardly in the space 12 or 12 between the portions 4 or 4' and the portions 5A of the fingers 6. The loop 2 will support the crown of the hat, as shown in Figure 1, and the fingers 6 will retain the brim and prevent the hat from sliding off the hanger.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in so far as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claim.

I claim:

A hat support consisting of a single piece of wire having an elongated loop formed by bending the major portion of the wire and joining one end thereof with the body of the wire at a point spaced from the other end thereof, said other end portion of said wire being bent to form a hook for suspending the support, said loop depending from said hook and having generally parallel and widely spaced side wire portions which are uniformly bent substantially at right angles intermediate their length and provide an upright portion below said hook and a substantially horizontal portion at the lower end of said upright portion and formed by the free end of said loop to be inserted into the crown of a hat, the wires of said upright portion being uniformly bent in double U-bends to form depending fingers and a back portion, said fingers depending from said hook and rigidly spaced in front of said back portion and above said horizontal portion and forming therewith an angular slot of suflicient width for freely receiving the brim of a hat, said loop side portions being widely spaced to engage the hat transversely thereof to firmly support the hat without twisting, said back portion being curved to accommodate the under surface of a hat brim along the length thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 93,637 Schirrmacher Oct. 16, 1934 490,768 Hodge Jan. 31, 1893 827,551 Mills July 31, 1906 897,668 Shoemaker Sept. 1, 1908 1,162,375 Legros Nov. 30, 1915 1,611,231 Ratterman Dec. 21, 1926 1,720,109 Walk July 9, 1929 2,496,473 Hunt et a1. Feb. 7, 1950 2,649,208 Wilson Aug. 18, 1953 2,777,582 Van Dusen Ian. 15, 1957 

